11.06 Sonic Arts Workshop Prep Assignment

Assignment Deliverables

1. Bring Sound Object, hidden in a container, to class with repeatable sound that you practiced.

Assignment Overview

Collect an object or objects that you can physically manipulate to make sounds that you find interesting, and practice “playing” them.

• Focus on the sonic properties of the objects; visual aspects are not important for this exercise.
• You should be able to manipulate your sounding object(s) to produce audible variations (in tone, volume, timbre, etc.). Practice the techniques you’re going to use to activate them.
• Sounding your objects must be repeatable - no one-time sound events (a balloon that you pop won’t work for this; a balloon you use as a drum could).
• Percussive or friction-based actions (hitting/rubbing/scraping) are obvious choices for sounding strategies, but you are not limited to just those.
• No electronics; no objects purpose-made to make sound (musical instruments).
• Objects should be no larger than a paper grocery bag. Please bring your objects to class in a bag, box, or otherwise hidden from view, so that we can hear you play them before we see them.

Be prepared to demonstrate your sounds. ¹

Grading Rubric

References